The full NFL schedule has finally been released and we now know every game the Indianapolis Colts will have in the 2022 regular season.
The Indianapolis Colts schedule has been released and now that we know when and where each game is, we can start understanding how the season will shake out.
Fans have known the opponents and which games are on the road and which are at home for months. However, the order is important, too. Knowing when that bye week tells a lot. Is a team limping into the bye week or are they limping at the end of the season from an early bye?
Are there several games in a row that are on the road? Will that cause a losing streak? Are there several home games that are back-to-back that create good momentum to end the season?
All things to consider when it comes to a full schedule. Knowing the opponents is one thing, knowing when is another. In this article, we will break down each game with a prediction pick on how Indy will fair this season.
✨ THE 2022 SCHEDULE IS HERE ✨ pic.twitter.com/QlBOOKNI9q
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) May 13, 2022
Week 1 – Colts at Texans
This is a game where you wish T.Y. Hilton was on Indianapolis’ roster. T.Y. owns the Texans in NRG Stadium and that has never changed.
Even without Hilton, Indy should be able to visit Houston and take control of this game early. I’d expect the game to be over by the end of the third quarter this year.
The Texans have no direction and we just don’t know enough about them quite yet. Will Davis Mills’ progression carry them this season? No one knows, not even Houston.
The great news here is that the Colts will finally win in week 1!
Colts win (1-0)
Week 2 – Colts at Jaguars
The bad news is that Indianapolis has not won a game on the road against the Jaguars since 2014. They are on a seven-game losing streak on the road.
The good news is that Matt Ryan is 4-0 against the Jaguars. What streak snaps this time around? My bet is on Jacksonville’s streak ending. Ryan snaps Indy’s 7-game losing streak, something that Luck, Brissett, Rivers, and Wentz were not able to do.
The streak is over and Indy is going to get this win in Jacksonville for the first time in what seems like forever. A new streak will start this week, and that’s that the Jaguars won’t beat the Colts at home for a long time.
Colts win (2-0)
Week 3 – Colts vs. Chiefs
The tides are turning in the AFC West and the Chiefs are not the powerhouse they once were during Patrick Mahomes’ time in Kansas City.
With Tyreek Hill being shipped out to Miami for draft picks, it leaves just Juju Smith-Schuster and rookie Skyy Moore to make a difference for the offense. Moore is likely going to be a great player on this offense, but how quickly will he pick up the offense this early in the season?
If the Colts can manage to contain the Chiefs’ passing offense, this should be a win for the Colts. On paper, the Colts have the better defense, but the Chiefs have the better offense. Maybe it comes down to special teams?
This matchup will be closer than most expect, resulting in a home-opening win.
Colts win (3-0)
Week 4 – Colts vs. Titans
Indianapolis hasn’t beaten the Titans in Indy since 2018. That’s not a great statistic when you are talking about the two teams that are competing for a divisional title.
The AFC South is one of the only divisions in the league that is either not completely wide open or handled by just one team. Derrick Henry should be back and healthy for this matchup and if he is, it’s going to be important to contain him.
If Indy cannot prevent the Titans’ offense from exposing them, it’s going to be a long day for Gus Bradley’s defensive unit. This game won’t be as fun as the prior week.
Colts lose (3-1)
Week 5 – Colts at Broncos, Thursday Night Football
This is the first of four primetime games for the Indy. A few months ago, this should have been a solid victory for Indianapolis. Now, the team heads to Denver to play against Russell Wilson, who has always had the Indy’s number.
The Colts move into higher elevations and the Broncos are able to control the game from the start. The run game doesn’t get out of the gate and limits the passing options that are just stopped by the Broncos’ secondary.
This game is going to be a struggle for Indianapolis and its fans as it’s a tough, brutal loss on national television.
Colts lose (3-2)
Week 6 – Colts vs. Jaguars
Indianapolis won’t be ending this season against the Jaguars. Thankfully, the second matchup is a home game for the Colts after what happened in the epic season finale collapse they had in Jacksonville last year.
The last time Indy lost to the Jaguars in Indianapolis was in 2017. That was the year the Jaguars advanced to the AFC Championship. That’s certainly not happening this year, because the Jaguars will be having a tough run early in the season.
Colts win (4-2)
Week 7 – Colts at Titans
This will be a split series between Indy and the Titans this season. The Titans are going to go into this game expecting to win at home, but just don’t show up.
Indianapolis will control the second half of this game and get it done when it matters most. With a strong showing from both Michael Pittman, Jr, and Jonathan Taylor, the Titans’ defense just doesn’t have what it takes to control Indy’s offense.
The season is split, the division comes down to how both Indy and Tennessee fair out against the rest of the division.
Colts win (5-2)
Week 8 – Colts vs. Commanders
Carson Wentz returns to Indy for the first time since… last year. How the fans react to Wentz’s return will be the most interesting part.
Wentz obviously did not get the job done in Indy before being shipped off to his third team in three years. Let’s hope this is Ryan’s best game of the season and the defense is able to capitalize off of any mistakes made by Wentz.
Colts win (6-2)
Week 9 – Colts at Patriots
Last year, Indy had the last laugh against the Patriots. That’s something that we couldn’t have said for many, many years with Tom Brady under center.
The rivalry is back, according to Chris Ballard a few years ago, but it really never got going again. Indianapolis fans hate the Patriots, but is it received that way in New England? It doesn’t appear to be.
Second-year quarterback Mac Jones has it figured out finally and is able to put together an impressive resume heading into this game. After taking care of the Bills this season, the Patriots take care of the Colts in New England.
Colts lose (6-3)
Week 10 – Colts at Raiders
This could be the biggest revenge game of the season. Had Indy taken care of business at home in Week 17, Indianapolis would have made it into the playoffs.
This time, the team heads to Las Vegas to square off against newly acquired Davante Adams and the Raiders. Luckily for Indy, its secondary has improved, and Indianapolis is able to manage the Raiders’ weapons for a nice victory.
Colts win (7-3)
Week 11 – Colts vs. Eagles
There are many that think A.J. Brown will open up the Eagles’ offense and allow Jalen Hurts to succeed and only time will tell. There is still the chance that Hurts does fail with all of the weapons and the Eagles move on from Hurts after just a few short seasons.
This will be the first time Indy plays the Eagles since 2018. The last time Indianapolis beat the Eagles was in 2006 with Peyton Manning. The Eagles have won the last three matchups, once in Indy.
This is a different regime, though. This will be the first time Indy plays against former offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni. This will also be the first time the Eagles play against their former offensive coordinator Frank Reich.
Who wins in the former offensive coordinator battle? Frank.
Colts win (8-3)
Week 12 – Colts vs. Steelers, Monday Night Football
The Steelers are in a bit of a conundrum this season. It’ll be the first year after Big Ben retired this offseason. But the bright lights are burning on Monday Night Football. This is a chance for them to prove the league wrong.
With new quarterback Mitch Trubisky on the roster, the Steelers still drafted a quarterback in the first round. Will Indy see Trubisky or Kenny Pickett in this game?
I’d expect the Steelers to play Indianapolis hard here no matter who is under center. The rest of the team is ready to compete and basically carried Big Ben last season, anyways. Indy will give up a heart-breaking loss at the worst time.
Colts lose (8-4)
Week 13 – Colts at Cowboys, Sunday Night Football
The Cowboys don’t really have it rough in the NFC East and haven’t really played many tough opponents. Indy comes out and gets off to an impressive start to the game and is able to control throughout until the fourth quarter.
Dak Prescott is going to make a run towards the end of the game that gets the Cowboys in a position to win the game, but when it matters most, fails with a game-winning interception by Indy’s secondary.
Indianapolis gets back to form just before the week 14 bye week and is able to get some very much-needed rest as they enter the final four weeks of the season.
Colts win (9-4)
Week 15 – Colts at Vikings
The Vikings are improving, but not by much. Indianapolis is able to control Dalvin Cook and the Vikings’ offense. Most impressively, Indy will shut down Justin Jefferson altogether.
The Indianapolis defense is able to make Kirk Cousins look like a fool and get an impressive win against another NFC opponent.
Colts win (10-4)
Week 16 – Colts vs. Chargers, Monday Night Football
The Chargers are going to be the team to beat in the AFC West this year and you can print it. Brandon Staley and Tom Telesco have done a lot of work to continue building the Chargers into a contender.
Justin Herbert has also accelerated that and has proven himself to be a top playmaker in the NFL. If Khalil Mack stays healthy, the defense will be a force with both Mack and Bosa coming after quarterbacks.
This matchup will be a true battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball but result in Indy losing a second time on Monday Night Football.
Colts lose (10-5)
Week 17 – Colts at Giants
Do the Giants even know what their plan is moving forward? Daniel Jones may or may not be the quarterback at this point and let’s just face it, does it even matter?
Indianapolis should be able to dominate the Giants in all phases of the game no matter who is playing. At this point in the season, Indy is looking to put together an impressive string of wins and it starts here.
Colts win (11-5)
Week 18 – Colts vs. Texans
The Texans are still in a rebuild mode and are not expected to compete for the AFC South divisional title. This won’t stop them from competing at a high level and giving Indianapolis everything they’ve got, though.
Davis Mills played well to end the season and it’s expected that he will take another leap this year. I would expect Lovie Smith to be prepared when they head to Indianapolis, but Indy will still close out the season on a hot streak.
Colts win (12-5)
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